Large Pelagics Survey At-a-Glance
NOAA Fisheries’ Marine Recreational Information Program administers a national network of recreational fishing surveys. The Large Pelagics Survey gathers catch and effort information from vessels targeting large pelagic or highly migratory species.
How does NOAA Fisheries collect information about offshore recreational catch?
Offshore recreational fishing trips use distinct fishing methods to target specific species. Because these trips are so specialized, they often fall outside of the sample frames of our general recreational fishing surveys. The Large Pelagics Survey (LPS) is a set of complementary surveys used to estimate total catch of tuna, sharks, billfish, swordfish, and other offshore pelagic species. The LPS is administered by NOAA Fisheries’ Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) and is conducted by a contracted firm and state partners. The survey is administered in Maine through Virginia from June through October, which is when most fishing trips targeting large pelagic species occur.
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The LPS includes three components:
- The Large Pelagics Intercept Survey collects catch data via a dockside/public-access interview from a sample of private and charter boat operators who just completed a fishing trip targeting large pelagic species. The resulting data are used to produce species-specific estimates of catch per trip.
- The Large Pelagics Telephone Survey collects numbers of fishing trips during specified time periods from a sample of HMS Angling and Atlantic Tunas general category permit holders. HMS Charter/Headboat permit holders are surveyed as part of an “add-on” to the For-Hire Survey. The resulting data are used to produce effort estimates of vessel trips in which anglers fished with hand-gear (i.e., rod and reel or handline) for large pelagic species. Some large pelagic species do not require an HMS permit, so trips by vessels without an HMS permit targeting those species are not covered by the telephone survey. Therefore, data collected from the Large Pelagics Intercept Survey are used to calculate an expansion number, so the total effort is representative of all LPS trips.
- The Large Pelagics Biological Survey collects length and weight data and biological samples (e.g., otoliths, muscle tissue, first dorsal spines, and gonads) from Atlantic bluefin tuna. Unlike the intercept and telephone surveys, the resulting data are not incorporated into our recreational catch estimates. Instead, the data and samples are used by the Southeast Fisheries Science Center to assess the age structures of stocks, population genetics, growth rates, and reproduction rates. This information helps inform stock assessments.
How does the Large Pelagics Survey benefit me?
When anglers participate in a recreational fishing survey, they’re making a vital contribution to our understanding of recreational catch. The data provided to the Large Pelagics Survey are used to produce catch estimates that are published on a monthly basis. Complete and accurate information from the offshore recreational fishing community informs international stock assessments and helps ensure managers receive the landings information they need to monitor catch against quotas and pass only those regulations necessary for the long-term sustainability of stocks.
What is the purpose of the LPS redesign?
We are currently in the process of analyzing data from a pilot study to inform improvements to the LPS. The pilot study ran from 2020 through 2023 in the states of New Hampshire through Virginia and included statistical simulations and field tests. The updated design should produce more statistically valid and robust catch estimates for large pelagic species.
For the Intercept Survey, we plan to improve features of the in-person sampling design and catch estimation methods. This includes modifying the current design features that cannot be statistically accounted for, such as interviewer determined start and end time, site selection, and time spent at each site. In addition, data collected during the interviews will be statistically weighted, so fishing trips are properly represented in the catch estimate based on the level of fishing pressure or activity at the interview site. Anglers will not be asked to do anything differently as part of the survey. At this time, changes to the certified telephone effort survey or the biological survey are not recommended.
What is the timeline for implementation of the new survey design?
We anticipate implementation of a new design in 2026, pending favorable peer review and certification in 2025. Pilot testing in Maine will continue through 2025. An alternative survey method may need to be considered in Maine based on the results from pilot testing.
Will estimates be impacted? If so, how?
When analysis of the pilot study is complete, we will have a better idea of how different the new catch estimates are from current estimates. It is uncertain at this time if calibrating the historical estimates to reflect the new design will be needed.